Customer&#39;s token



Feb. 28, 1933. s ANTHONY 1,899,072

CUSTOMERYS TOKEN Filed July so, 1951 #75 ATTO EV Patented Feb. 28, 1933 PATENT OFFICE STANLEY THONY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS ous'rolvrnas TOKEN Application filed'July 30,

v This invention relates to customers tokens of the kind used as identification for charge accounts and more particularly to be used as a printing plate in a hand printing machine for applying the customers name and address to the charge and mailing sheets of the salesmans manifold book.

Printing machines with which these tokens are used are of theimpact or roller pressure 10 type. Tokens as heretofore produced for usein both. types of printing machine are adapted for use in a number of stores and have been provided with means which co-- operate with other special means in the ma chine of each store and which, unless present on the token, preventits use in a particular store machine, thus to inform the salesman whether or not the customer has a charge account at the store where the token ispresented. A simple arrangement to gain this end has been the provision of a series of recesses along one edge of the token, one for each store in the co-operative scheme, and a complementary single projection on the machine, the machine of each store having its projection at a' different location to fit into a particular one of .the series of recesses.

The name and address of the customer is embossed in the metal of the printing plate by means of a graphotype and for successful graphotyping it is requisite that a very ductile or pliable metal be used. Heretofore these tokens have been made from a flat piece of this thin, ductile metal, the edge of which is notched as required, or for use in the tokenreceiving recess in the bed of a printing machine the plate has been formed with a salient central panel providing two flanges, one of which may be notched, located in a lower 40 plane than the plane of the panel which has received the graphotype embossing.

The tokens are carried loosely in the pocket or a hand bag and because of the thinness 1 and ductility of the metal heretofore used they frequently are sodistorted or bent out of shape when ofiered to the salesman that it is difiicult to fit them in the printing machine. Furthermore the constant rolling pressure applied'by the roller type printer causes the soft metal of the printing plate 1931. Serial No. 553,995.

gradually to curl, resulting in illegible imprints, even though the plate can be seated in the machine. Frequent replacements become necessary resulting in expense to the stores and in inconvenience to their customers.

One object of this invention is to provide a customers token of the kind referredeto having characteristics-that will preserve its original shape both in or out of theprinting machine. Another object of the invention is 6G to provide a token that can-be changed to suit differing charge accounts at small cost.

A further object is to provide a printing plate that can be replaced, as for embossing with a new address, at less cost than heretofore.

To the accomplishment of these objects and such others as may hereinafter appear, as will readily be understood by those skilled in the art, the invention comprises a printing plate having the novel features of construction first described specifically and then pointed out in its true scope by the appended claims.

The best'embodiments of the invention at present known are illustrated in the accom- 5 panying drawing, in which: 7

Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of a salient panel form of back plate or support for seating in a recess formed in the bed of a printing machine;

. Fig. 2 is a view, in perspective, of one form of blank-for a printing plate that may be mounted on the support of Fig. 1; 7

Fig. 3 is a view, in perspective,-of an assembly of the support and .printing plate of Figs. 1 and 2;

' Fig. 4 is a View, in cross-section, of a customers token as illustrated by Fig. 3' showing also how a card of the control bureau may be held in place; i

Fig. 5 is a view, in perspective, of a flat back plate or support with a printing plate formed from the blank shown in Fig. 2 mounted thereon; and

Fig. 6 is a view, in longitudinal section, taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

i In the embodiment of the invention illus trated in the drawing, for use in the roller type of printing machine a channel-shaped backing plate (Fig. 1) having a salient central panel 10 and longitudinal or side flanges 12 in a lower lane, is formed from any convenient material having the re uired inherent stifl'nes. In practice these bac ing plates are formed of any metal which has the requisite stifi'ness in a light gauge to avoid excessive We' ht. For use in either type of printing mac inc a flat haekin plate 14 (Fig. 5)"may be employed. Such a hacking plate may have a air of notches 16 at each end.

e printing plate 2) is a flat piece 18 of some ductile metal, such as printing plate alloy which is well known and has been used for this purpose for many years, so soft and pliable as to be capable when embossed with a name and address of presenting clear- 1y formed letters and figures. The usual embossing process employed is known as graphotyping. The printing plate 18 may have a pair of ton es 20 at each end as illustrated. -The die or cutting the printing plate 18 will be so dimensioned that the widt of the tinting plate will be substantially that of 5'10 central rtion 10 of the backing plate shown in 1, or substantially less than the width of the backing plate as shown in Fig. 5. Thus in both tokens there are side mar 12 (in Fig. 1) and 22 (in Fig. 5) whi are uncovered by the material 0 the printing plate. The printing plate may be substantially as long as its backing plate for use in both t s of printing machine.

In assembli riz the arts as illustrated the printing plate 18 is etachably mounted on a backing plate by bending the tongues 20 about the end edges of the plate portion 10 (Fig. I? or through the notches 16 (Fig. 5). After 0 enching the tongues to the under side of the backin plate the side walls (see Fig. 4) or the note walls (see Figs. 5 and 6) prevent the rinting plate from slipping 05 sidewise altliough the engagement of the two plates is merely mechanical and the printing plate can instantly be detached from its back- 1 ngvpllate.

ile only one way of mounting the printmg plate is shown, other ways may be used and still fall within the scope of the invention which contemplates the provision broadly of a composite customers token embodying a pliable printing plate retained in printing position on a stiff backing plate which prevents distortion of the printing plate under all conditions of use or non-use. The readily detachable mounting is of importance should the customer change his address or some other change in the printing plate be required.

Customers tokens are usually handled through a central bureau which may handle the tokens for a number of stores each of which, with the present improved form of the token, would supply its own printing plates while the bureau would sup ly the backing lates suitably prepared wit cooperatingi entification recesses for fitting each special store identification projection found in the printing machines used by each store in accordance with a system that has been in use for many years. A single such identification recess 24 and 26 is shown in the flan e 12 (Fig. 3) and exposed margin 22 (Fig. 5 respectivel The bureau may notify customers hol ing the tokens gf the names of the stores on the co-operative scheme in which case a thin card 28 bearing such names may be clamped to the under face of the backin late as shown in Fig. 4.

composite token as herein described is of great value to both the store and the central bureau. If an account is discontinued it is necessar to replace only the printing plate the ol backin plate or registering member being assem led with the new printing pnlate and given to the new customer. e bureau need handle only the backing plates, either keeping a variety of registering edge cuttings 1n stock or recut: ting as accounts are added. Ordinaril these changes would be made and recorded hy the bureau, the store having the graphotyped as required. T e is a saving by the use of this invention to either a single store or to a central bureau because the printing plates, which are the most a!- ensive feature, are practically indestructiile bein preserved in their true from, and always at for clear printing, by the stitl and unbendable backing plate.

The nature and scope of the invention having been indicated, and its preferred embodiment having been specifically described, what is claimed as new, 1s:

1. A customers token consisting of an embossed-type rintin plate and an unembossed rigid ack p ate, said plates having co-operating means comprising clenching tongues and recesses, said ton es engagin said recesses and folded to rigi y engage sai plates at the back.

2. A customers token according to claim 1 in which said oo-operatin means comprise a tongue at each end of rinting plate and a recess at each end of t a back plate, said tongues adapted to be inserted insaid recesses and folded back and engage the under side of the back late.

3. A custcmers to on comprising a rinting plate of pliable metal, and a ri support underlying and prevent distortion of said printing plate, an ident' ing card on the bot-tom of said support, said printing plate having edge portions bent under the corresponding edges of the support, and rigidly engaging said support and card.

4. A composite printing plate comprisin an embossed plate having tongueson the an s thereof of bendable material, said tongues folded about and rigidly securing said plate to an underlying support of comparatively hard and rigid material, said support being no pzfinting plates 9 Wider than the embossed plate and presenting uncovered marginal side edges.

5. A composite printing plate according to claim 4 in which the uncovered marginal side edges of the support extend in a. plane below the plane of the embossed plate.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si ature,

STANLEY ANTH NY. 

